Lita looked at Freja and frowned. She tapped her hand against her head. “I hate this, but I can’t blame you. Either of you. But damn, what a time …”
“Wait, either of us?” Reiya said and looked at Freja. “You too?”
“Me too … what now?” Freja looked up as Lita stared her down.
“We know,” Alice said calmly.
Freja gulped and looked behind her. “You’re sure they can’t hear?”
Alice smiled, nodding her head. “Looks like someone finally figured out how to keep a secret.” She looked at Reiya, who smiled sheepishly.
“So, you’re pregnant too?!” Freja asked, looking at Reiya.
Reiya smiled. “I guess congratulations to you too?” She chuckled dryly.
“If Hunter finds out …” Freja shook her head.
“Can you imagine if Lee knew? He’s been so preoccupied lately. That’s the only reason I’ve managed to keep this from him.” Reiya bit her bottom lip nervously. “He’s already looking for any reason to lock me up.”
“What did you see in your visions? How did you know?” Freja asked. She was a little bit unnerved that they knew about her pregnancy.
“We’ve seen many different futures. Every scenario. So don’t be alarmed about what we’re going to tell you, because nothing is certain,” Lita said, looking between the two girls. “How bad is the separation from Lee? Does that amulet from Grandpa Sage work?”
“The amulet draws in Lee’s energy when he’s in my vicinity. When he’s away, my body slowly draws what it needs from the energy sealed in it. For now, it’s worked.”
Lita nodded. “If you get stuck in the black hole, you’ll be in immense pain. We’ve both seen it. Well, blurred glimpses of it. It’s hard to see clearly there.” Lita then looked at Freja. “We’ve seen you heavy with child and alone. You continually wait and watch for Hunter to return. We have seen a future where you’re close to giving birth and he still isn’t by your side. We’ve also seen the four pregnant Chain girls together, sitting at a table eating watermelon and drinking lemonade. You’re all happy. The premonitions keep changing, and each has a different scenario. Some visions were without Freja and Reiya. But when we saw you both, you were always pregnant in every single oneof the premonitions. This told us one thing—that you two were already expecting. That part of the future never changes, which means it’s set.”
“But we don’t know where Reiya will be giving birth or if Freja will be alive, pregnant and alone, or if Hunter will make it back. We just don’t know. I was able to see the amulet that the Great Sage had given Reiya. And from the vision, I was able to understand its purpose better.” Alice looked at Reiya. “You don’t have to go into the black hole now. If you can’t make it out, it will be a very hard pregnancy for you.”
“I know, Grandma. I’ve thought about this. I feel like this is something I need to do.” Reiya appreciated what she was saying, but she had given this a lot of thought, and she knew she was doing the right thing.
“You know how me and your father work. He already knows everything. But we agreed we won’t say anything. The truth is …” Lita looked at Reiya and Freja, giving them both a small smile. “I understand. I don’t like it, but if it were me … Hell, it was me. When I was pregnant, I fought against Abaas. Now, I know it got sprung on us and I didn’t have a choice. However, I would have chosen to fight anyway. And honestly, if I was in the same situation that you’re in now, I would also fight.” Lita grabbed each girl’s hand and squeezed it.
“Everyone is going to make it and be together after this. And we’re going to have a whole new generation being born. With all these new babies, it’s going to be so much fun.” Lita pulled both girls closer, wrapping her arms around them both. “Be careful out there. And your mates are going to be livid when they find out.” Lita chuckled as the two girls laughed, nodding their heads.
“They’ll be mad, but once the danger is over, I think they’ll be more focused on the excitement.” Reiya bit her bottom lip. At least she hoped so.
“Hey, I told Hunter if he got me pregnant, I would fight anyways. I wasn’t joking … though when I said it, it may have seemed like a joke.” Freja giggled and shrugged. “I’m fighting for a future that my child can live in. Me hiding to keep us safe means nothing if we don’t succeed.”
“Freja and I have different circumstances than Chelsie and Jin. I’m the fairy princess and a Gemini twin. Freja is the Queen of the Werewolves. We have to be here. Our powers are needed.” Reiya looked at Freja. “Can we just take a second, though, and be super excited for each other?”
Freja laughed. “So is this another twin thing? You and Hunter had to make sure you both had kids at the same time? I’ve been pulled into some weird twin world, haven’t I?”
Reiya giggled, and then her eyes widened. “Gosh, I didn’t think about that. I wonder if we’re due around the same time, too!”
“After all this is over, we will have time for a proper examination. I say we book the four of you and hook up four screens. We can compare gestation times then.” Lita had to focus on the positive. They couldn’t worry about what might happen. She had too many precious loved ones fighting. Instead, she would focus on life and making sure they ended this war once and for all. It was time for her family to finally have peace.
“Freja,” Lita said, and the girl’s green eyes lifted to meet hers. “Trust yourself and your instincts. Your fairy power calls out to you when it knows it can help. Believe in yourself, and concentrate on that power when it happens. As fairies, we discover our powers for ourselves. There seems to be more to you … and more to your fiery wolf.”
“About that. I don’t think I’m going to fight in my wolf form. It isn’t that I don’t trust my wolf. I’m an experienced fighter as is, and I think I can be more effective in this body. But if I think I need to, I won’t hesitate to bring Ember forward.” Freja hopedthey didn’t try to argue with her over this. She really felt she would be nimbler and a more efficient killer in her current form.
“Fight however you feel most comfortable, Freja. You have plenty of time to hone your skills with your wolf. You weren’t born a werewolf. It’s natural that you wouldn’t feel comfortable fighting as one yet.”
Alice walked forward and hugged the three women. “I’ve never been a fighter. Elysia is relying on all of you for protection. I will fortify the fairy kingdom on the inside, just in case … we can’t let the demons have Elysia. If all hope is lost, then I will permanently seal Elysia and relocate the kingdom.” She sighed and looked at her daughter. “One day, the time for fairies and magical creatures will come to an end. And it will be the fairy queen’s job to seal Elysia permanently so that no one can enter or leave. I’m hoping this won’t be for a long time. Like a few thousand years?” Alice giggled. “But it’s our job to keep this place safe, no matter what. Even sealed, it will continue to be a beacon of pure light and hope for the world. It’s something we must never lose.”
“Don’t worry, Mom. We’re going to protect Elysia. Maybe one day Elysia will have to be sealed, but it won’t be this time.” Lita smiled at her confidently.
Alice smiled back and nodded her head. “Okay. Go kick butt, or whatever it is you would say in this situation.” She gave a crooked smile and they all laughed.
